“Excitement is guaranteed thanks to Mussorgsky’s powerful music left behind recklessly ignoring all classical form patterns and harmony laws. Also because with Vienna- debutant, James Conlon a conductor is at the disposal, under whose secure guidance the Staatsopernorchester plays, as if it had practiced this repertoire-series for weeks:  The wind solos, the pleasing sound of the musical phrases –  last but not   least of the   phenomenal   harmonious cello group -the powerful sounds of the bells and martial attacks of the brass, all creating a dramatically raging sound stream which also carries the effective Chortableaux of the smallest vocal part to masterful main role singing performances.” — Presse

“The excellent, dramatically gripping US-Conductor, James Conlon from Los Angeles, who made his amazing late debut at the Staatsoper with his performance on Sunday, conducted Mussorgsky’s rugged score with Shostakovich’s rough orchestration sounding brisk and massive.” — E. Hirschmann-Altzinger